In the face of injury, USC’s JuJu Watkins is still adding to her trophy case this season.
As the No. 1 Trojans gear up to play the No. 5 Kansas State Wildcats without Watkins — who went down against Mississippi State with a reported ACL tear, per Shams Charania — Watkins was named National Player of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Association (USBWA).
Watkins averaged 26.1 points per game in 35 minutes per game this year, alongside 7.3 rebounds per game and 3.7 assists. Defensively she also averaged 2.6 steals per game and 2.2 blocks.
While USC had a strong team this year, Watkins was a key component in both USC victories over No. 1 overall seed UCLA. She scored 38 points in the first win and 30 in the second.
The Trojans are now looking to advance to their second Elite Eight in as many seasons after snapping a 29-year drought last year. To do so, they’ll be without their best player and, now, the player recognized as the best in the country.
Watkins, 20, still has two more seasons ahead of her before she is eligible for the WNBA Draft. WNBA rules state players must graduate within three months of the draft, be four years removed from high school, or 22 years of age the year of the draft to enter.
That means Watkins still has some time at USC after her personal disappointing finish this year. She is undoubtedly hoping her teammates, led by Kiki Iriafen, will be able to finish the job she has been so instrumental in starting.